Saudi says fossil fuels still needed despite global warming fears

Leading crude exporter Saudi Arabia supports efforts to limit global warming but believes fossil fuels should remain part of the world energy mix, Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said yesterday.

Naimi was speaking at a meeting of major fossil fuel producer and consumer nations in Riyadh ahead of a UN conference on climate change in Paris later this month.

Saudi Arabia is seen an opponent of a proposed treaty to be discussed at the conference that would demand legally binding commitments from signatory countries on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.